Chrysanthemum plant named Charm

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named Charm having flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; light lavender pink ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 90 to 110 mm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum; and spreading branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Charm.

Charm is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new chrysanthemum cultivars for pinched, disbudded pot mumprograms having decorative capitulum type, lavender floret color, eightor nine week photoperiodic flowering response, and having the ability toproduce commercially acceptable quality in year round programs. Suchtraits in combination were not present or needed improvement inpreviously available commercial cultivars.

Charm was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding programin Salinas, Calif. in 1979. The female parent was Tempo, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,505, originated by the present inventor from ahybridization of two unnamed pink decorative seedlings. The male parentof Charm was identified as 775052, originated from a cross betweenCymbals, disclosed in pending Application for U.S. Plant Pat. Ser. No.313,274, and an unnamed yellow daisy 752181.

Charm was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett on May 9, 1980 in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Charm was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in August 1980in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technician workingunder formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett.Horticultural examination of selected units initiated July 15, 1981 hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Charm are firmly fixed and retained through successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

Charm has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif.and Leamington, Canada under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Charm which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form;

(2) Decorative capitulum type;

(3) Light lavender pink ray floret color;

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 90 to 110 mm. atmaturity;

(5) Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(6) Medium plant height, requiring 2 long day weeks prior to pinch andshort days, and 1-2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 14 to 21 days after thebeginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 30 to 35cm.; and

(7) Spreading branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical foliage andinflorescence characteristics of Charm. Sheet 1 is a color photograph ofa plant of Charm grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum, with colors beingas accurate as possible with renditions of this type. Sheet 2 is a blackand white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Charm. Sheet3 shows the leaves of Charm in three stages of development (mature,intermediate, immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Charm is the commercially available cultivarAlways Pink, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,256. Reference is madeto attached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Charm tothose same characteristics of Always Pink.

Charm is similar to Always Pink in flowering response period andcapitulum form and type. However, the flower form of Charm normallyremains flat with maturity. Always Pink reflexes at maturity withdiminished keeping quality.

Charm displays a more spreading branching pattern, a larger diameteracross the face of the capitulum and a more vigorous plant habit.

The color of Charm is lighter than Always Pink. It is practicallyresistant to color oxidation whereas Always Pink oxidizes rapidly.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 11:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. on Dec. 9, 1982 under 150 foot-candlelight intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv CHARM.

Commercial.--Disbud decorative pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--90 to 110 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Lightlavender pink.

Color (abaxial).--75A-C.

Color (adaxial).--76B-C.

Shape.--Flat, oblong.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--154B.

Color (immature).--149B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 30 to 35 cm. given 2 long day weeks before pinch andlights out, and 1-2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP after lights out.

Branching pattern.--Spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--147B.

Color (adaxial).--148B.

Shape.--Moderately lobed. Deeply serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF CHARM AND ALWAYS PINK                                           ______________________________________                                                            CAPITULUM                                                 CULTI-  RAY FLORET  FORM AND     BRANCHING                                    VAR     COLOR       TYPE         PATTERN                                      ______________________________________                                        CHARM   LIGHT       FLAT         SPREADING                                            LAVENDER    DECORATIVE                                                        PINK                                                                  ALWAYS  LAVENDER    FLAT         UPRIGHT                                      PINK    PINK        DECORATIVE                                                ______________________________________                                                                          FLOWER-                                             DIAMETER ACROSS           ING                                         CULTI-  FACE OF         PLANT     RESPONSE                                    VAR     CAPITULUM       HEIGHT    PERIOD                                      ______________________________________                                        CHARM   90 to 110 mm.   MEDIUM    8 WEEK                                                              30 to                                                                         35 cm.                                                ALWAYS  80 to 100 mm.   SHORT     8 WEEK                                      PINK                    25 to                                                                         30 cm.                                                ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           PINCHED DISBUDDED POT MUMS SALINAS,                                           CALIFORNIA AND LEAMINGTON, CANADA                                         

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., named Charm, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatcapitulum form; decorative capitulum type; light lavender pink rayfloret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 90 to 110mm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response;medium plant height, and spreading branching pattern.